Q: Do you use historical market data?

Yes - but we don't stop there. Our default assumptions are calibrated against nearly a century of market history (Ibbotson SBBI data, 1926–2024), including the crashes. Real markets don't follow a tidy bell curve, so our simulations model fat tails and negative skew - crashes hit harder than rallies - along with bull/bear market cycles and volatility clustering.

Here's where we differ from optimistic calculators: we deliberately don't project the historical 8% average forward. Our default is a more conservative 6%, in line with forward-looking estimates from major research firms, because past performance is not a promise. Prefer the historical average? Change one setting. You can also run a side-by-side comparison of our standard model against a historical bootstrap - scenarios built by resampling actual past market years.

​

Q: Does each account have a fixed return?

No - and that's the point. A fixed return hides the risk that actually breaks retirement plans: a bad market early in retirement. NaluMoney runs Monte Carlo simulation - thousands of randomized market scenarios - so you see the range of outcomes, not one hopeful line.

Want more precision? Turn on multi-sleeve mode and set separate return and risk assumptions for cash, bonds, inflation-protected bonds (TIPS), and stocks, with realistic correlations between them, annual rebalancing, and an optional glide path that shifts your allocation as you age.

​

Q: What retirement spending pattern do you use?

Research shows retirees don't spend a flat amount forever. By default we model the retirement "spending smile" (Blanchett, Morningstar 2014): full spending in the active early years, a dip in the mid years, then a partial rebound later as healthcare costs rise. Prefer a flat, declining, or fully custom pattern? All available in settings.

You can also split spending into Must / Like / Legacy tiers. Your headline success rate answers the question that matters most — will my essentials always be covered? — while a second number shows the odds of funding your full lifestyle.

​

Q: How do you define a "successful" retirement plan?

Most tools call a plan successful if the balance never hits exactly $0. We think that's too generous - $5,000 left against $60,000 of annual spending is not success. Our stricter viability rule also fails any scenario where the portfolio dwindles below one year of expenses after year 15, or where withdrawal rates stay above 15% for five straight years. And we never inflate the number: if the math says 100%, we show 100%, with a reminder that certainty is impossible.

​

Q: Do you model taxes?

Extensively - this is one of the biggest gaps in typical retirement calculators. NaluMoney models federal brackets, standard deductions (including the age-65+ additions), capital gains stacking, NIIT, AMT, and all 50 states. It handles Required Minimum Distributions under SECURE 2.0 (including inherited IRA rules), Roth conversion planning with IRMAA-aware sizing, Medicare premium surcharges, Social Security claiming analysis, and tax-efficient withdrawal ordering. Tax data files are updated as the IRS and states publish changes.

One honest caveat: these are planning-grade estimates, not a prepared tax return. Verify material decisions with a CPA.

​

Q: Where can I read your methodology?

Right here: Methodology - and in the app under Settings → Methodology. We publish our formulas, default assumptions, data sources, and academic citations, plus a "Known Limitations" section that tells you plainly what we don't model. We believe you shouldn't trust a black box with your retirement, so we opened ours for public audit.

Your data

​

Q: Is my financial data private?

Yes - by architecture, not just by promise. Your financial data lives on your device and, if you're signed into iCloud, syncs through your personal iCloud account. It never touches our servers, so we couldn't read, sell, or monetize it if we wanted to. No ads, no tracking, no lead generation, no advisor funnel. The only thing we ever receive is crash logs. Full details: Privacy Policy.

​

Q: What happens to my data if I stop subscribing or delete the app?

It's yours. Data stays on your device and in your iCloud account - deleting the app or using "Clear All Data" in settings removes it permanently. Because we never held a copy, there's no account to close and nothing left behind on anyone's server.

 

Using NaluMoney

Q: What devices does NaluMoney work on?

NaluMoney is built for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Silicon Macs - and it truly shines on the larger screens, where charts, year-by-year tables, and What-If tools sit side by side in a focused planning workspace.

​

Q: What is the Advisor Packet?

A professional-grade PDF report you can hand to your spouse, CPA, or financial advisor: Monte Carlo projections, financial independence metrics, Social Security timing analysis, withdrawal strategy, and Roth conversion schedules. Most people walk into advisor meetings with questions. The Advisor Packet lets you walk in with a plan - generated entirely on your device.

​

Q: Is NaluMoney financial advice?

No. NaluMoney is educational planning software - powerful tools for understanding your own numbers, not personalized financial, tax, or legal advice. We're not an advisory firm and we don't steer you toward any financial product. For decisions with real stakes, bring your NaluMoney reports to a qualified professional (that's exactly what they're designed for).

​

Q: How does the free trial work?

Try NaluMoney Pro free for 30 days - build your plan, stress-test it, export your Advisor Packet, and decide if it earns a place in your retirement workflow. Subscriptions are billed and managed through your Apple Account; cancel anytime in Settings → Subscriptions before renewal and you won't be charged.